H.I.T.R.

[broncoman]

Hey Dave I wanna here bout Hole In The Rock .. wanna know what I need to bring in on labor day...

[greenjeep]

OK, I finally have time to tell the whole story.

My first problem was not knowing where I was going. I was under the false impression that the trail started about 80 miles from Moab, just outside of Blanding. WRONG, that would be Hotel Rock/Arch Canyon. Hole in the Rock actually starts about 150 miles from Moab and another almost 2 hours from Blanding! So when we finally hit the trail I was already hot and tired, and we were just starting!!

2nd mistake was not know more about the trail itself. This is a long bumpy trail, and I mean BUMPY!!!!!!!!! This wouldn't have been too big of a deal if we'd have taken the XJ, but since Dani was called into work I had to take the Commando since I had no feasible way to get the CJ there. The trail was just too much for a 38 year old body and frame. The Commando was rattling like it was about to come apart!!

We were about 2/3 of the way in (It's about 50 miles round trip) right at the top of "The Shoot" when we noticed that my radiator was leaking. While checking around to see where the leak was, we noticed that my frame was cracked right where my power steering box connected. So we loaded up my stuff in the other 3 vehicles and headed for the end of the trail, where we were spending the night.

The next day we filled the radiator and began limping out, we could usually go about 30-45 minutes before we needed to add water. It became very tedious very quickly, plus the farther we went the bigger my frame crack was getting. About 10 miles or so from the start of the trail my steering finally bound up, the added strain to my front end had caused the passenger side frame rail to also break, right behind the spring hanger. This bound up my steering shaft and I couldn't steer. At that point the steering box break was almost 3/4"!

So we left the Commando and headed out. Jeff, aka drtsqrl, graciously volunteered to spend the night down there while I came back to town to try to get stuff to fix the dead Mando. So we pull into Moab about 6ish, and by about 11pm we were heading back; after borrowing a truck, trailer, Ready Welder and grabbing a quick dinner, finding some radiator Stop-Leak, and filling up some 5 gallon water jugs, and getting Jeff's welding stuff. My sister and brother-in-law agreed to drive their truck and tow the trailer with my wife's XJ on it, we need it to be able to get to the Commando.

We got to the trailhead about 3ish, and to Jeff's campsite about 4ish, and finally to the Commando at about 6ish, just as the sun was coming up. At this point we realize that we had forgotten Jeff's welding hood and gloves in the truck at the trailhead, dang-it!!!!! So Jeff put on a couple pairs of sunglasses, closed his eyes, and did his best.

By 8am it was as good as it was going to get at that point, not pretty, but at least functional, we were able to jack the frame up a little so there was only 1/2" gap, it was just enough that if I REALLY muscled it than I could steer. 3 bottles of Stop-Leak slowed the leak, but didn't stop it; we still used over 5 gallons of water to get it out.

We got back to Jeff's camp a bit before 10 and at that point I jumped in the XJ to take my sister back to Moab, she had to be at work at noon. We left my Brother-in-law, Brian, and Jeff to get the Mando the last couple miles of the trail and onto the trailer. We arrived back in town about 1pm and the crew with the broken Jeepster rolled in around 3.

It was a LOOOOOOOOONG weekend!!!!!!!!!! Was it beautiful, definitely. Was it historic, for sure. Was it worth it, not in my Commando it wasn't; I have no idea how or when I'll be able to get it drivable again!!!

So that's my Hole-in-the-Rock story. So when you go, go prepared for anything and everything!!!!!!!

[moabmomma]

sounds like you had all the fun you could stand for 1 trip.... we need to start over on the mando ..

[moabmomma]

moabmomma said:

sounds like you had all the fun you could stand for 1 trip.... we need to start over on the mando ..

sorry this is broncoman (forgot I logged in on debs name )

[tracyj]

So your trip to hole in the radiator...er...rock was eventful. Glad you made it back o.k. Could it possibly be time to retire the 'mando to easier trails?

[greenjeep]

broncoman said:

we need to start over on the mando ..

Yeah, it's gonna need some MAJOR reconstructive surgery!!

tracyj said:

Could it possibly be time to retire the 'mando to easier trails?

Yep, that's about what I was thinking, daily driver and 3ish trails; if I can get it driveable again that is.

[timb]

I've had simular HITR trips. I think when a vehicle really quits out there it dawns on you just how remote the place is. I once towed Ken Wazzisname (cannot remember his last name - he drove a black CJ with a 360 and managed the potash bag plant out by the truck stop) all the way from the spot where the mountain goat led the pioneers down the cliff. We got home around 3 AM. Ken and his wife were sick of the smell of propane by the time we got home. ;D

[BroncoMama]

So what is the verdict on the Commando? Is there any life left?

[greenjeep]

Just a broken frame, no biggie!! You still wanna buy it?

[BroncoMama]

Maybe! Do you owe anything on it or would you just want some cold hard cash?

[greenjeep]

If you're serious email me.

[e-mail]